RAJYA SABHA
The World Road Statistics,2006, which provides the data for the year 2003 in respect of India, indicates that the number of persons killed per lakh of population in India is 8.08.
As per the preliminary tentative data, covering the majority of States and Union Territories, the number of deaths due to road accident is estimated at more than a lakh (1,01,439) during the year 2006 as compared to the figure of 94,968 deaths for the year 2005.
The safety of road users is primarily the responsibility of the concerned State Government. However, this department has taken several steps to improve road safety for the road users which are as under:
i) Road safety is the integral part of road design at the planning stage for National Highways/Expressways.
ii) Various steps to enhance road safety such as road furniture, road markings/road signs, introduction of Highway Traffic Management System using Intelligent Transport System, enhancement of discipline among contractors during construction, road safety audit on selected stretches, have been undertaken by National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).
iii) Refresher training to Heavy Motor Vehicle drivers in the unorganized sector.
iv) Involvement of NGOs for road safety activities by Department of Road Transport and Highways and NHAI.
v) Setting up of Model Driving Training School in the country by Department of Road Transport and Highways.
vi) Publicity campaign on road safety awareness through audio-visual-print media by Department of Road Transport and Highways.
vii) Institution of National Award for voluntary organizations/individual for outstanding work in the field of road safety by Department of Road Transport and Highways.
viii) Tightening of safety standards of vehicles.
ix) Provision of cranes and ambulances to various State Governments/NGOs under National Highway Accident Relief Service Scheme. National Highways Authority of India also provides ambulances at a distance of 50 Km. on each of its completed highways under its Operation & Maintenance contracts.
x) Widening and improvements of National Highways from 2 lanes to 4 lanes and 4 lanes to 6 lanes etc.
This information was given by the Minister of State for Shipping, Road Transport and Highways, Shri K.H. Muniyappa in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.
VBA/PP/BS
(Release ID :33842)